Pick The Right Cargo Carrier
Vacation has arrived and your family is ready to hit the road. Or,
maybe vacation is still several months away and you realize the mountain of gear
that needs to go with you has to be packed somewhere. Looking at your
family vehicle you're probably thinking "there is just no way all of that is
going to fit into there". Where is it all going to
go? At LakelandGear.com, we've been helping travelers pack since 1997. Let us help by making the following suggestions.
1. Look at your car to see the features that you have to assist in packing.
Do you have a factory luggage rack on the roof? Racks are a big asset to help you haul
cargo. If you don't have a luggage rack, you may consider adding one by
visiting your local car dealer or by adding an aftermarket version. If you
have roof rack side rails on your car, you can add aftermarket cross bars from
our site. Receiver hitches are another asset for cargo. These square "holes"
under your back bumper are usually 2" or
1.25" in diameter. They accept trailer hitches, bike racks,
cargo boxes and platforms, and other accessory products. We will discuss cargo boxes below.
2. Considerations for packing gear on the roof: Understand
that you and
your crew are going to have to lift duffel bags, tents, bicycles, or whatever
else up
to the roof level or higher. Usually, this doesn't present a problem for most people,
but it is still an important consideration. You can usually stand on the door
frame, the tailgate, the bumper or even on the spare tire and have people hand
your gear up to you if necessary.
Light weight wheel steps are available as step ups for loading the roof as well.
3. Also, consider aerodynamics. Car top carriers come in all shapes and
sizes. Car top boxes and car top cargo bags will make a difference in your
gas mileage-sometimes up to 5 mpg. Some of these bags and boxes are designed
with aerodynamic shapes to slice the wind and don't affect your mileage quite as
much. If you have gear that
must go on your trip or is necessary to make your vacation fun, by all means pack it, the minor difference in
fuel costs shouldn't ruin your fun. If you want a solution that won't affect
your mileage, please consider the
Cargo Saddlebag car back carrier or our wide selection of
Hitch Mount Cargo Boxes. These cargo solutions ride behind your car with no
wind resistance what-so-ever.
4. PackRight Cargo Bags or Hard Shell
Cargo Boxes?
Which way to go? Let's match them head to head and declare a winner for
each category in parenthesis.
Easy to put on and off (bag). Many people install a roof
box and leave it on.
Easy to load gear (box). The rigid shape
makes it easy to place things inside.
Aerodynamics (box). Although there are a
few PackRight car top bags that have an aerodynamic
shape. See
Sport
1 and
Sport
3.
Security of cargo (even). Boxes and bags
both lock. Car
top carrier bags are easy to take off at night and lock in the
hotel room.
Cost (bag). Roof top bags are much less
expensive.
Storage when not in use (bag) fold up and pack
away in a small space. Even keep one in the
trunk. Stuff sack is included.
Packing odd size or large objects (bag).
They are flexible and made wider, so generally
bigger objects can fit inside.
Packing skis (box). Some boxes are long
enough to fit skis inside.
There you have it: bag 4-1/2 to box 3-1/2.
That is how we see it.
Remember to consider the height of your garage or
any places that you regularly travel. When
considering the size of your bag or box, remember
that car top bags should be packed full so the material
doesn't flap in the wind and boxes should be
packed full so that gear doesn't rattle around inside.
5. If you have a 2" (Class III) receiver you can carry
heavier loads than with a 1.25" (Class II) receiver. If you don't have a receiver, you can
get one installed at any U-haul dealer or your local trailer or hitch
shop. Hitch mount
Cargo Boxes are
growing in popularity. LakelandGear.com features fixed models and
Swing Away Cargo
Boxes that allow you to move the box away from the vehicle, providing you
easy access to the back. Hitch mount cargo boxes are easy to install
and easy to load since they are closer to the ground that roof boxes. If
you decide to go this route, don't forget a locking hitch pin which will lock
the cargo box to your vehicle. LakelandGear.com hitch mount cargo boxes are
extra secure with a strong lock in the lid.
6. Cargo platforms fit into receiver
hitches. Cargo platforms can also be fixed
or swing away. LakelandGear.com offers a large
selection of
Swing Away Hitch Mount Cargo Platforms.
Some models fold up against the back of the vehicle
when not in use. Cargo platforms are great for
items that won't fit into a box. A locking
hitch pin is also a great idea here as well as a
Locking Security Cable to hold your gear. You
should also be conscious of the platforms finish. Painted
surfaces will eventually scratch and rust
will start to form. Better units are powder coated which ends up being
much more durable than paint.
7. How about the
PackRight
Cargo Saddlebag. This innovative cargo device is a large bag that
suspends from your luggage rack down the back of your
car. The Saddlebag provides the best of all
worlds. In the competition above, this bag wins each
category hands down. The bag is extremely easy to load
with no aerodynamic
drag and comes at a low cost.
The bag rides under the rear window without
obstructing your view. Please read more about
this unique product-our highest seller.
As you can see, you have many choices where to
pack your gear, but only one right one for you.
Please contact us if you need assistance in
determining which solution is right for you.